Northstar Firebird vs. Phoenix

I'm in the market for a new solo canoe. 90% of my paddling is on rivers and most of those are shallow and rocky. My paddling is usually leisurely fishing on streams that flow at about 2.5-3 MPH with occasional class 1 rapids but at several points in every trip I'll hit a flat stretch and would like something that's not a complete dog. It will be me (185 lbs) solo and a fishing pole with no baggage or dog. I currently have an Old Town Discovery 119 which I hate but was all I could find during covid. It feels like I'm paddling a bathtub. It has terrible manners in the wind and doesn't track well even on calm days. I want something under 40 lbs, reasonably stable for fishing (kneeling or sitting, never standing), maneuverable but decent tracking in the flat sections, not too prone to getting pushed around by the wind, and can be set up for kneeling.

I'm zeroing in on the Northstar Firebird or Phoenix. The sub-30lb weight of the Blacklight or Starlight layups are appealing but I think IXP is what I need for the shallow rocky rivers I paddle. I'm curious if anyone has paddled both and what your thoughts are. Does the Phoenix track noticeably better than the Firebird? How do they do in the wind? Am I too heavy for the Firebird? Does my use case point towards the IXP layup or will the others hold up OK to scraping?

Do you have the ability to test paddle some canoes? Its hard to know what level of tracking, stability, wind resistance, and performance is right for you.

I use lake-oriented boats on rivers because I need the efficiency for going upstream.

In the Northstar line the Trillium and Firebird are the hot boats and the Northwind Solo and Phoenix are the extra friendly high capacity boats. The Phoenix may track a little better than Firebird but neither has much tracking. Firebird is more efficient in flat sections, Phoenix does fine for most folks and will be much better than your 119...only you can decide if it's a dog. Phoenix is more stable and better for fishing while sitting. Your weight is no problem for a Firebird but if you are tall the boat will feel more sensitive. In my view it's a kneeling boat.

gumpus said:

Do you have the ability to test paddle some canoes? Its hard to know what level of tracking, stability, wind resistance, and performance is right for you.

Click to expand...

A test paddle in the upper midwest this time of year is kind of tough. I'm game as long as the water isn't iced over (we used to whitewater kayak all winter) but I don't think the outfitters are comfortable allowing me to do it. I might have to wait until Spring. I don't think I can bring myself to drop this much coin on a boat without trying it first. I'm planning to head south to Georgia/Florida/Alabama for the winter so maybe I can find a dealer down there that will allow a test paddle but there aren't as many in those states as there are up north.

Carl's Paddlin in Lone Rock WI will let you test paddle. I think Rutabaga in Madison will too but I'd call and check. Rutabaga also carries Swift and the Keewaydin 15 is worth trying, it's a great all around boat that will also handle scrapes better than the blacklite or Kevlar Northstars. If you're near SW MI and want to try mine just let me know.

Overall, between a Firebird and Phoenix the Phoenix seems like a better fit for you.

The Trillium has 1” less rocker in the rear of the boat which will make it less sensitive to input, less twitchy, when crossing lakes, also it has 2” less height all the way around that the wind can’t catch and the IXP layup is 2 lbs. lighter. Which ever one you choose will be a nice boat.

I looked at a Northstar Firebird, Phoenix, and Swift Prospector 13 & 14 today and bought the Phoenix. The Firebird looked like a great play boat but seemed a bit too small. The craftsmanship of the Swifts was phenomenal. Absolutely stunning and really made the Northstars look crude but in the end the Phoenix was a better fit for me, especially the IXP layup for the shallow rocky rivers I run most frequently. The store wouldn't let me test paddle it because it was just a hair above freezing but said I could return it within 7 days if I wasn't happy. So I bought it and immediately took it out for a short spin in their pond. I think I'm going to be very happy with it. I found it very stable with good tracking for a river oriented boat.

Congratulations on the new canoe! I think you made a great choice for your criteria.

I was out in my Phoenix today puttering around and working on refining paddle strokes in a local pond. We are about the same weight, and I have paddled it with and without a camping load and had no problems either way. You should have no problem fishing from it; I went with kneeling drops instead of the sitting drops and I still find it stable for sitting, moving about and looking around. I went with the Blacklight layup for the weight, but put on wood gunwales just for the beauty and the quietness in paddling.

A hair above freezing? It was 58 degrees when I was out and I still had on a sweater! Good on ya!